Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao
Clubname	Athletic Bilbao
Fullname	Athletic Club
Founded	1898
Ground	San Mamés
Capacity	53,289
Chairman	Jon Uriarte
Manager	Ernesto Valverde
League	La Liga
Current	2023–24 Athletic Bilbao season

Athletic Bilbao. Founded in 1898, it is one of the founding members of La Liga and, alongside Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, has never been relegated from the top flight. The club is renowned for its unique philosophy of fielding players native to or trained in the greater Basque Country, a policy that has defined its identity for over a century. Based in Bilbao, it plays its home matches at the San Mamés, a venue known as "The Cathedral" of football.

History

The club's origins are linked to British workers and Basque students returning from Britain, who introduced the sport to the Biscay region. Athletic was a founding member of the Primera División in 1928 and won its first titles in the early decades, including the 1930–31 championship. The post-Spanish Civil War era saw success under legendary managers like Ferdinand Daučík and players such as Telmo Zarra, the league's all-time top scorer for decades. The 1980s, under managers Javier Clemente and Howard Kendall, brought a period of sustained triumph, including consecutive league and cup doubles. More recently, the club reached the finals of the 2012 UEFA Europa League and the 2020 and 2021 Copa del Rey.

Club culture and identity

The club's core identity is its cantera policy, often called the philosophy, which limits player recruitment to those born or raised in the Basque Country or Navarre, or those developed by its youth academy. This policy fosters a profound connection with supporters, symbolized by the iconic red and white striped shirts. The club's anthem, the "Himno del Athletic", and fierce rivalries, most notably the Basque derby with Real Sociedad and contests against Real Madrid, are central to its culture. The San Mamés is renowned for its intense atmosphere, particularly on nights under the lights in European competitions like the UEFA Europa League.

Stadium and facilities

The club plays at the San Mamés, opened in 2013 on the site of the old stadium of the same name, which was nicknamed "The Cathedral". With a capacity of 53,289, it is a UEFA category four stadium and has hosted matches for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament. The club's training and youth development hub is the Lezama Facilities, a complex in the Biscay municipality of Lezama. This facility houses all the club's youth teams, from the Juvenil squads down to the youngest age groups, and is integral to maintaining the famed cantera system that has produced talents like Iker Muniain and Unai Simón.

Honours

Athletic's trophy cabinet includes eight La Liga titles, with the most recent coming in the 1983–84 season. It is the second-most successful team in the Copa del Rey, having won the competition 23 times, including a streak of four consecutive victories from 1910 to 1913. The club has also won the Supercopa de España on three occasions, in 1984, 2015, and 2021. In European competition, its best performance was finishing as runner-up in the 2012 UEFA Europa League after a defeat to Atlético Madrid.

Players

The first team squad is exclusively composed of players who qualify under the club's regional policy. Notable current players include captain Iker Muniain, goalkeeper Unai Simón, a FIFA World Cup winner with Spain, and striker Iñaki Williams. Historically, legendary figures include record goalscorer Telmo Zarra, iconic goalkeeper José Ángel Iribar, and midfield dynamo Andoni Goikoetxea. The club's commitment to its youth system ensures a constant flow of talent, with recent academy graduates like Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet becoming key figures.

Management and staff

The club is presided over by president Jon Uriarte, who was elected in 2022. The first-team head coach is Ernesto Valverde, who is in his third spell at the club after previous successful tenures and managerial stints at FC Barcelona and Olympiacos. The technical and sporting direction is overseen by figures such as Mikel González, a former player. The board of directors and the extensive coaching staff across all levels at Lezama work in unison to uphold the club's distinctive sporting and cultural project.

Category:Football clubs in Spain Category:La Liga clubs Category:Sport in Bilbao